The Challenge
A well-known U.S. tool manufacturer was dedicating two full-time employees per shift to manually palletize hundreds of metal drawers—every day, across three shifts. The process was repetitive, physically demanding, and inefficient, especially given the complexity: over 100 drawer SKUs, reused slip sheets, and non-standard postal-style pallets.
They needed a smarter, safer, and more scalable solution.
The RMH Solution
RMH Systems designed and installed a fully automated robotic palletizing cell tailored to their operation. Here’s what made it work:
- Custom EOAT (End-of-Arm Tooling): Designed and built to handle 147 unique drawer variants—ranging in size from 7”x13” to 26”x67”—including perforated models that required magnetic gripping. The same tool also picks heavily worn corrugated divider sheets and solid-body pallets with ease. An integrated mix of Magswitches and vacuum cups gives the EOAT the flexibility to reliably pick a wide variety of parts, no matter their condition or shape.
- Solid-Body Nestable Transport Pallets: The manufacturer used molded-foot pallets that required a conveyor system capable of handling this unique geometry. RMH Systems selected a plastic belt conveyor—commonly used for this pallet type—to ensure reliable transport and smooth integration with the robotic cell.
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Fast, Flexible Deployment: Despite mid-project design changes and space constraints, the system was installed in just two days and fully operational by Day 3.
The Results
The Results-
Manual palletizing eliminated across three shifts
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Near-100% stacking accuracy
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Improved ergonomics and operator safety
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Labor reallocated to higher-value tasks
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Scalable for future product variations or expansion
Why They Chose RMH Systems
The customer had worked with RMH in the past and trusted our ability to deliver. Our team’s deep experience in robotic integration, conveyor design, and custom tooling—along with strong project execution—made RMH the right partner to take this challenge from concept to reality. This successful automation project has opened the door for similar cells across their operation, driving even greater efficiency across their manufacturing lines.
Want to learn more or see this project in action? Click the button below.
Ready to Eliminate Manual Palletizing?
Let’s talk about how automation can work for your operation. Whether you’re dealing with labor shortages, repetitive tasks, or complex product handling—we design robotic systems that do the heavy lifting for you.
👉 Contact our automation team today and take the next step toward a safer, more efficient facility.
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